WHAT TO SEE IN AGRIGENTO?

Itineraries in Agrigento

1) The Historic Center of Girgenti

Agrigento is known as the City of Temples because of its expanse of Doric temples of the ancient Greek city located in the so-called Valley of the Temples, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The historic center of Agrigento can be identified on the western summit of the hill of ancient Girgenti. Significant evidence of Arab-Norman art is preserved in the historic center, including in particular the cathedral of San Gerlando, the Palazzo Steri seat of the seminary, the bishop's palace, the Basilica of Santa Maria dei Greci and the monumental complex of Santo Spirito and the gates of the city walls. St. Gerlando's Cathedral is the main Catholic place of worship in Agrigento, and in the southern facade of the tower, Plateresque decorative references are evident, with blind windows and the coat of arms of the Montaperto family eroded by time.

2) The Valley of the Temples

The Valley of the Temples is an archaeological park in Sicily characterized by its exceptional state of preservation and a series of important Doric temples from the Hellenic period. It corresponds to ancient Akragas, the monumental original core of the city of Agrigento. Since 1997 the entire area has been included in the list of World Heritage Sites compiled by UNESCO. It is considered a coveted tourist destination, as well as the symbol of the city and one of the main ones of the whole island. The 1300-hectare Valley of the Temples archaeological and landscape park is the largest archaeological park in Europe and the Mediterranean. The Valley of the Temples is characterized by the remains of as many as eleven temples in Doric order, three sanctuaries, a large concentration of necropolis, hydraulic works, fortifications, part of a Roman quarter built on a Greek plan, two important meeting places: the Lower Agora and the Upper Agora, an Olympeion and a Bouleuterion from Roman times on a Greek plan. The Temple of Hera, also known as the Temple of Juno or Temple D, was built in the 5th century B.C. and burned down in 406 by the Carthaginians. It was the temple where weddings were usually celebrated. The Temple of Concord, named after a Latin inscription found near the same temple, also built in the 5th century B.C., is the best preserved. The Temple of Heracles, or Temple of Hercules, represents one of the oldest buildings; destroyed by an earthquake, eight columns remain standing today. At the western end of the area on which the Temple of Concord stands, part of the late antique and early medieval necropolis is located in the garden of Villa Aurea.

3) Agrigento Regional Archaeological Museum

The "Pietro Griffo" Regional Archaeological Museum in Agrigento brings together state, civic and diocesan collections of archaeological materials, and constitutes an organic whole of particular importance for understanding the history of the city of Agrigento and its territory. The museum layout is divided into 17 rooms according to topographical and chronological criteria. There are two exhibition paths: the first 11 rooms are dedicated to the ancient city of Akrágas, the remaining 6 display materials from the most important sites of the vast territory of the Central-Southern Antiquities Superintendency of Agrigento.

4) Kolymbetra Garden

The garden of the Kolymbethra located in a small valley in the heart of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, covers a little more than five hectares, within which one can find a rich variety of agriculture typical of the area. At the bottom of the valley are various species including citrus, carob, pistachio, mulberry, walnut, pomegranate and banana trees; along the river and at the foot of the limestone walls are almond trees, olive trees, traditional vegetable gardens and Mediterranean scrub with myrtle, laurel, lentisk, terebinth, phillyrea, holm oak, euphorbia, alaterni, broom, dwarf palms, ampelodesm and carob.

5) The Turkish Staircase

The Scala dei Turchi is a white marl cliff that juts out into the sea along the coast of Realmonte, in the Agrigento area. It has become a tourist attraction over time, both because of the uniqueness of the cliff, which is white in color and has peculiar shapes, and as a result of the popularity gained by the novels starring Commissioner Montalbano written by Empedoclino writer Andrea Camilleri. To access it, one must proceed along the shoreline and climb a slope resembling a large natural staircase of limestone. Once you reach the top of the cliff, the visible landscape embraces the Agrigento coast as far as Capo Rossello. The name derives from past piracy raids by Saracens, Arabs and, by convention, Turks. Turkish pirates, in fact, found shelter in this area less beaten by the winds and representing a safer landing place.

6) Punta Bianca Nature Reserve

Punta Bianca is a nature reserve that lies on a white marl promontory east of Agrigento. The only building that stands out in this area is the ruin of a former Guardia di Finanza barracks.

7) Andromeda Theater

The Andromeda Theater is an open-air theater located in the territory of Santo Stefano Quisquina, in the Sicani Mountains. This theater was built by an artist shepherd named Lorenzo Reina, who built a circular stage and seats in a scenic area of the town, made of stone blocks that reproduce in number and arrangement the stars of the constellation Andromeda hence the name. At the summer solstice, the sun's shadow cast by a disk behind the stage projects a circle that coincides with a circular black space on the stage. Similarly from the mouth of a sculpture at sunset passes a ray of sunlight. It is also called the highest stone theater in the world due to the fact that it is located about 900 meters above sea level. Around the structure the owner has created an art trail with a series of sculptures granted by other artists such as Icarus dying, or the sculpture Imago of speech. Art events and plays promoted by the artist-owner are organized in the area.

8) Sciacca

Sciacca is a seaside, tourist and spa town, rich in monuments and churches, and is the most populous municipality in the province after Agrigento. It is known for its historic carnival and ceramics. The church of Maria SS. del Soccorso or Duomo is the main place of Catholic worship in Sciacca. The basilica stands on a slight slope, so the walking surface is connected to the roadway by a short flight of steps with access to a small churchyard fenced with balustrades with typical amphora-shaped columns. The Enchanted Castle of Sciacca is an open-air museum with a display of heads carved and chiseled into the rock by a peasant artist. His sculptures depict characters, famous and not, to whom he gave names and who, in his mind, represented the subjects of the kingdom he created and of which he was the "Lord."

9) Licata

Licata lies on the western edge of the Gulf of Gela, and is laid out against a hill known as the Mountain. The church of Santa Maria La Nuova is the mother church of Licata, with a 15th-century layout and Baroque-era renovations, and houses the Chapel of the Black Christ. Various are the archaeological finds in the area, among them the Stagnone Pontillo hypogeum, the artificial cave necropolis of Mount Petrulla and the Grangela.

10) Torre Salsa Nature Reserve

Torre Salsa Oriented Nature Reserve is a protected area located in the municipality of Siculiana and is managed by WWF Italy. Its shoreline stretches along the coast for about 6 kilometers, from Siculiana to Eraclea Minoa, where more or less steep cliffs, dunes and beaches alternate. Geologically, the territory is characterized by the presence of sedimentary rocks called evaporites, the characteristics of which are most evident in the coastal cliffs and quarries. On the Salsa promontory is the ruin of the tower of the same name, built to defend the Sicilian coast from Saracen incursions in the second half of the 16th century. In the area there are also the remains of another tower and four tombs dating from the Byzantine era, along an abandoned mule track, there is a small "calcara," evidence of the techniques used in the past for the production of gypsum, and several rural houses of historical-architectural interest.

11) Macalube Nature Reserve of Aragon

Macalube Integral Nature Reserve of Aragona is a protected natural area in Aragona and includes a vast clay territory characterized by the presence of eruptive phenomena. The reserve area is characterized by predominantly clayey soils furrowed by ephemeral streams fed by seasonal rainfall. The area of greatest interest is the Vulcanelli Hill, a barren area, whitish to dark gray in color, populated by a series of mud volcanoes, around a meter high. Over the centuries, the place has inspired numerous legends: according to one of them, the eruptive phenomena in the area allegedly began in 1087, following a bloody battle between Arabs and Normans: the grayish liquid propelled by the eruptive activity was thus renamed sangu di li Saracini (blood of the Saracens).

12) Cathedral of San Gerlando

The Cathedral of San Gerlando dominates Agrigento from high above the city, overlooking a square that faces the sea. Founded between 1096 and 1102 by Gerlando, the city's first bishop after the Norman reconquest, it is one of the most fascinating examples of Sicily's artistic and historical stratification.Its architecture recounts centuries of transformations and different stylistic languages that intertwine harmoniously: the Arab-Norman style, visible in the transept and clock tower; the Chiaramonte Gothic style, in the octagonal columns and pointed arches of the nave; Renaissance motifs in the façade and the unfinished bell tower next to it; and Baroque decorations embellishing the presbytery and the central part of the church. With a Latin cross plan, the cathedral measures approximately 100 meters long by 40 meters wide. Inside, three wide naves open up under decorated wooden ceilings: the side naves, with beams painted with figures of saints and noble coats of arms from the 16th century; the central nave, with wooden coffered ceilings dating back to 1682. Along the left aisle lie archbishops and notables from the 15th to 17th centuries, while near the south door is the urn containing the embalmed body of St. Felix the Martyr, whom popular tradition identifies with Brandimarte, Charlemagne's paladin who fell at Lampedusa.Among the treasures preserved here are the silver ark of San Gerlando (1639), located in the chapel of the same name, and a delicate marble statue of the Madonna and Child by Stefano di Martino (1495).Another fascinating feature is an acoustic phenomenon that captivates visitors: a whisper uttered at the entrance can be heard clearly in the apse, 85 meters away. This is Agrigento Cathedral: a building that combines art, history, and mystery, reflecting a Sicily that has welcomed different cultures over the centuries, transforming them into timeless beauty.

13) Porto Empedocle

Porto Empedocle, overlooking the southwestern coast of Sicily, has been one of the island's most important ports for centuries. In the past, shipments of sulfur and rock salt from the inland mines departed from here, bound for destinations all over the world. Today, ships and ferries depart from the port for the Pelagie Islands, connecting Sicily with Linosa and Lampedusa. Its origins date back to when it was known as “Marina di Girgenti,” a simple fishing village linked to the economic life of Agrigento. In the 15th century, an important grain loading facility was built here, a vital activity for the city, defended from pirate raids by the Torre Carlo V, erected in 1554 and later transformed into a prison by the Bourbons. In the 19th century, with the expansion of the sulfur trade, the village was transformed into a real town with churches, palaces, and cafés, eventually becoming an autonomous municipality in 1853 under the name Molo di Girgenti. Only a few years later, it took on its current name, in honor of the Agrigento philosopher Empedocles. But Porto Empedocle is also a city of culture and literature. Luigi Pirandello, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, and Andrea Camilleri, who made the city of “Vigata” famous with his novels, inspired by Porto Empedocle, were born here. Walking along Via Roma, the heart of the town center, you will come across the statue of Inspector Montalbano and the Mother Church of the Holy Savior, while the imposing Tower of Charles V still stands at the port, with artifacts and panels recounting its defensive function. The Empedocle coastline, with the wide beaches of Marinella and Lido Azzurro, forms the backdrop to a city that is not only about the sea, but also historical and literary memory. A city that Pirandello described in his short stories and that Camilleri transformed into myth, making it recognizable throughout the world.

14) Chiaramontano Castle in Naro

The Chiaramontano Castle in Naro, an imposing medieval fortress, is one of the most valuable examples of the great Chiaramontano architectural period in Sicily. Declared a national monument in 1912, it stands majestically on a hilltop, dominating the city and the landscape stretching as far as the sea and Mount Etna. Its origins are intertwined with history and legend: some trace it back to the time of the Sicani, but the current structure was built in the 12th century and enlarged in the 14th century by the powerful Chiaramonte family. Frederick III of Aragon stayed within its walls, and it was from here that he issued the famous 21 chapters of the kingdom concerning the good government of Trinacria. It was the same king who commissioned the imposing square tower, erected in 1330 and still marked today by the Aragonese coat of arms. In the following years, the castle also welcomed Martino il Giovane and Queen Maria, thus testifying to its central role in the history of medieval Sicily. The castle has a rectangular layout, with a perimeter of 166 meters and an off-center inner courtyard, around which the military quarters and stables are arranged. The pointed arch entrance leads to the large courtyard with a well, while a staircase leads to the heart of the manor: the Prince's Hall, covered by a Gothic vault and illuminated by elegant mullioned windows. Here, fragments of frescoes attributed to Cecco da Naro, the same artist who decorated the Steri dei Chiaramonte in Palermo, are still preserved. From the top of the square tower, there is an extraordinary view: to the south, the valley and the Strait of Sicily; to the north, the hills of the hinterland as far as Caltanissetta and Enna; and on clear days, even the outline of Mount Etna. Watching over the city, on the round tower, a statue of the Madonna recalls the symbolic and protective role of this place. Today, the castle is open to visitors and hosts cultural events and exhibitions, including the permanent collection of period clothing “Vento di donne” (Wind of Women), with splendid examples from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the traveling exhibition Il genio di Leonardo (The Genius of Leonardo). Its rooms, once a military garrison and royal residence, now also host ceremonies and civil weddings, continuing to live on as a symbolic space that defines the city's identity.

15) Caltabellotta

Caltabellotta (Cataviḍḍotta in Sicilian) is a mountain village of extraordinary beauty, suspended between history and legend, in the heart of the Sicani mountains, just over 20 km from Sciacca. Perched at an altitude of 850 meters, it dominates a vast territory stretching from the coast of Trapani to Mount Etna, embracing the blue Mediterranean Sea, just 13 km away: a breathtaking view. Its origins date back to ancient times, when the Sicani people populated these heights. In the 6th century BC, the Greeks founded Triokala, ‘the three beautiful things’, so called because of its abundant waters, impregnable position, and fertile land. The Romans remember it as the scene of the Servile War (104-99 BC), when rebellious slaves resisted imperial sieges for years. In Christian times, it became one of the first bishoprics on the island, with St. Pellegrino as its first bishop. With the arrival of the Arabs, it took the name Qal'at al-Ballut, “fortress of the oaks,” while the Normans, in the 11th century, built the castle that still stands today on the cliff of “Lu Pizzu.” But the history of Caltabellotta is linked above all to the “peace” that bears its name: here, on August 31, 1302, the treaty that ended the War of the Vespers between the Angevins and the Aragonese was signed. It is no coincidence that the village is remembered as the “city of Peace.” In the following centuries, it was ruled by the Peralta, Luna, Moncada, and finally Toledo families, always maintaining an important role. The historic center still retains its medieval charm, with the Terravecchia district, the Matrice square, and the majestic Mother Church that watches over the remains of Castelvecchio. Climbing higher, up to the Norman Castle, you reach one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Sicily: from here, the view stretches towards the African sea, the Sicani mountains, and the small villages that dot the hinterland. Caltabellotta is a blend of nature, history, and spirituality: a place that still preserves its “three beautiful things”—its waters, fertile land, and fortress—and offers visitors a timeless experience.

16) Sambuca di Sicilia

Nestled in the hills overlooking Lake Arancio, Sambuca di Sicilia has an ancient soul, rooted in its Arab heritage. Once called Sambuca Zabut, after the emir who built the castle on top of the hill, the town still retains the charm of its Saracen quarter, with winding alleys, secret courtyards, and the remains of towers that constitute one of the most significant examples of Islamic urban planning in Sicily. The heart of the historic center stretches along Corso Umberto I, opened between the 16th and 17th centuries and flanked by elegant 19th-century noble palaces. Here you will find Piazza della Vittoria, dominated by the Church of Carmine, built in 1530 and embellished in more recent times with rich Baroque stuccoes. Passing the Town Hall, you climb up towards the Arab quarter until you reach the Matrice Vecchia, with its 14th-century portal and charming terrace-belvedere offering a boundless view of the surrounding countryside. The historic Palazzo Panitteri now houses the Archaeological Museum, which preserves finds from the area of Monte Adranone, a few kilometers from the town. Here, among the remains of a city founded by Selinunte colonists in the 6th century BC, you can admire the vestiges of the necropolis, the city walls, and traces of the ancient acropolis, evidence of a past that saw the succession of Greeks, Punics, and Romans. The Queen's Tomb, the protohistoric huts, and the sacred structures give visitors a sense of the grandeur of a settlement that was destroyed and rebuilt several times until its final fall in the 3rd century BC.
Strolling through the narrow streets of Sambuca, you are immersed in an atmosphere suspended between East and West, between history and legend, in a village that has been listed among the most beautiful in Italy.

17) Mount Cammarata

At 1,578 meters above sea level, Mount Cammarata is the highest peak in the province of Agrigento and one of the most evocative places in the Sicani Mountains. It stretches between the territories of Cammarata and San Giovanni Gemini, dominating the surrounding landscape with its imposing presence. The area is protected by the Monte Cammarata Nature Reserve, which covers over 2,000 hectares, including the peaks of Pizzo Rondine, Pizzo dell'Apa, Monte Gemini, Serra Moneta, and the Santo Stefano Quisquina forest. It is an area that offers spectacular views, where nature manifests itself in different and surprising ways. Most of the slopes are covered with dense pine forests and deciduous trees, including field maple and sycamore maple, with precious patches of downy oak and holm oak, reminders of the ancient Mediterranean forests. The reserve is also a refuge for numerous species of fauna: at higher altitudes, there is a rare colony of red-billed choughs, while among the birds of prey, you can admire the lesser kestrel, peregrine falcon, lanner falcon, and buzzard; at night, the singing of tawny owls and scops owls enlivens the air. The trails that climb to the peaks, through valleys, woods, and rocky walls, make this mountain a favorite destination for lovers of trekking and unspoiled nature. From its heights, the view stretches across a vast horizon: from Mount Etna to the Mediterranean coast, until it is lost in the gentle hills of the Sicilian hinterland. To complete the experience, don't miss out on the local gastronomic tradition: cheeses and dairy products from the local pastures, which tell of an ancient bond between man and the mountains.

18) Eraclea Minoa

Suspended between myth and history, Eraclea Minoa is one of Sicily's most evocative archaeological sites. It stands on Capo Bianco, a promontory of white limestone rock that rises 75 meters above the sea and slopes down towards the Platani valley and the beaches below, offering a setting of extraordinary natural beauty. Its origins are steeped in legend: according to Herodotus, it was founded by the Selinuntines and dedicated to Heracles, while the name Minoa recalls the myth of Minos, who is said to have pursued Daedalus to these shores, where he was killed by the Sican king Kokalos. However, archaeological finds tell an even older story: fragments found under the archaic necropolis bear witness to presences dating back to the Neolithic period, while Phoenician coins confirm the existence of a trading colony on the site. In the 5th century BC, Eraclea Minoa became a subcolony of Selinunte and reached its peak during the Hellenistic period. Its strategic position, on the border between Greek and Carthaginian domains, made it a long-contested site until the Roman conquest in 210 BC. The city subsequently declined and, according to sources, a landslide swept part of the town and its walls into the sea. Archaeological excavations have unearthed important remains: the Greek theater, built at the end of the 5th century BC, with its auditorium facing the Mediterranean; sections of the city walls, about six kilometers long and reinforced by square towers; and a residential district with Hellenistic and Roman houses organized into insulae. In the Antiquarium, you can admire ceramics, votive statuettes, and finds from the necropolises. Today, a visit to the site combines cultural and naturalistic experiences. Next to the ruins, the beaches stretching at the foot of the cliff offer golden sand and crystal-clear waters, while the mud of Capo Bianco has been known for centuries for its beneficial properties. Eraclea Minoa is not just an archaeological site: it is a place where myth, nature, and history intertwine, giving visitors a vivid image of an ancient and fascinating Sicily.

19) Monastery of Santo Spirito

In the heart of Agrigento's historic centre stands the Monastery of Santo Spirito, known to the locals as Bataranni or Badia Grande. It is one of the most fascinating monuments of Chiaramonte art, built around 1299 at the behest of the noblewoman Marchisia Prefoglio. The entrance leads to an evocative cloister in the shape of an inverted “L”, the silent heart of the complex. On the west side is the imposing Chapter House, accessed through a grandiose portal framed by two splendid mullioned windows. The slender columns, arranged in three rows and embellished with refined decorations, create an effect of elegance and lightness. Inside, the ceiling is marked by high transverse arches that dominate the space. On the north side is the Monastery Chapel, built around 1350 by Constance II Chiaramonte, while on the opposite side is the portal leading into the refectory, a large rectangular room. Above it, the attic that serves as the floor for the dormitory is supported by five ogival arches; the entrance portal, in the centre of the façade, is embellished with decorative ring motifs. Today, the monastery houses the Civic Museum of Agrigento, guardian of precious historical and artistic treasures, and continues to be one of the city's symbolic landmarks: a monument that recounts the medieval spirituality, architectural refinement and long history of Agrigento.

20) Luigi Pirandello Theatre

The Luigi Pirandello Theatre is one of Agrigento's architectural and cultural gems. Its construction was decided by the municipal council in 1863 and work began in 1870, entrusted to engineer Dionisio Sciascia. During construction, technical disputes arose, leading to the involvement of architect Giovan Battista Filippo Basile, designer of the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, who contributed to the project. The theatre was inaugurated in 1880 and, shortly afterwards, on the occasion of Queen Margherita's visit, it was dedicated to her. During the Second World War, the building was used as a cinema, but in 1946, on the tenth anniversary of Luigi Pirandello's death, the municipality decided to name it after the great Agrigento playwright and Nobel Prize winner for Literature. Since then, the theatre has become a symbol of the city and its cultural identity. The elegant and imposing façade is in neoclassical style: two levels with an arched portico and Ionic columns framing large windows, surmounted by six bas-relief medallions depicting famous playwrights. Inside the atrium of Palazzo dei Giganti, the Town Hall, there is direct access to the theatre: here there are commemorative plaques and plaques dedicated to Pirandello, Dante and other protagonists of the city's cultural history. The interiors were decorated by important 19th-century painters, such as Giuseppe Belloni, Luigi Sacco and Antonio Tavella, who frescoed the ceilings and boxes with elegant scenes and refined colours. Particularly famous was the historic curtain, painted by Luigi Queriau, depicting Esseneto, the Akragantine athlete who won at Elea. The work, which was lost during the theatre's long closure, was replaced in 2007 by a faithful reproduction, donated by Agrigento producer Francesco Bellomo. Today, the Luigi Pirandello Theatre is not only a venue for shows and performances, but also the guardian of a memory that intertwines art, history and literature. Through its decorations, commemorative plaques and its link with Pirandello, it continues to recount the cultural soul of Agrigento.

21) Bivona

Bivona, nestled among the green hills of the Sicani Mountains, is a village with an ancient soul and unspoilt charm, now part of the nature park that protects this extraordinary landscape. Known above all for the cultivation of its renowned IGP peaches, with their delicate aroma and unmistakable taste, and for the local craftsmanship linked to the production of a particular traditional chair, Bivona combines nature, history and culture in a harmonious balance. Its origins are steeped in history and legend. First mentioned in the Norman era, around 1160, when Roger II reigned over Sicily, Bivona was then a small hamlet inhabited by Muslims, but there are also hypotheses that trace its first settlements back to the Syracusans. Over the centuries, the village became an important fiefdom: it belonged to the Chiaramonte, Peralta and finally Luna families, powerful families who marked its history. In 1554, Charles V elevated Bivona to the status of a ducal city, the first in the Kingdom of Sicily, ushering in a period of great prosperity: the population exceeded 8,000 inhabitants and numerous convents, churches and noble palaces were built, which still bear witness to the wealth of that era. Strolling through the medieval town centre, you will encounter precious traces of its past: the ancient Mother Church, with its Gothic-Chiaramonte portal, and the remains of the 14th-century castle built by Giovanni Corrado Doria-de Aurea of Genoa. The town also has significant links with religious orders, which built colleges and convents here, including the Jesuit college approved by Ignatius of Loyola. Bivona is also home to one of the oldest cults dedicated to Saint Rosalia, patron saint of Palermo. Despite the economic crisis of the 17th century, Bivona continued to enrich itself with new architecture, such as the refined Palazzo Marchese Greco, an elegant example of Sicilian Baroque. Today, the town, with just over 3,000 inhabitants, retains the authentic atmosphere of Sicilian mountain villages and preserves a natural and agricultural heritage that makes it unique. The Bivona peach, a true symbol of identity, continues to represent not only an economic resource – with an annual production of around 2,500 tonnes – but also an emblem of tradition, taste and a deep connection with the land. Bivona, nestled among the green hills of the Sicani Mountains, is a village with an ancient soul and intact charm, now part of the nature park that protects this extraordinary landscape. Known above all for the cultivation of its renowned PGI peaches, with their delicate aroma and unmistakable taste, and for the local craftsmanship linked to the production of a particular traditional chair, Bivona combines nature, history and culture in a harmonious balance. Its origins are rooted in history and legend. First mentioned in the Norman era, around 1160, when Roger II reigned over Sicily, Bivona was then a small hamlet inhabited by Muslims, but there are also hypotheses that trace its first settlements back to the Syracusans. Over the centuries, the village became an important fiefdom: it belonged to the Chiaramonte, Peralta and finally Luna families, powerful families who marked its history. In 1554, Charles V elevated Bivona to the status of a ducal city, the first in the Kingdom of Sicily, ushering in a period of great prosperity: the population exceeded 8,000 inhabitants and numerous convents, churches and noble palaces were built, which still bear witness to the wealth of that era. Strolling through the medieval town centre, you will encounter precious traces of its past: the ancient Mother Church, with its Gothic-Chiaramonte portal, and the remains of the 14th-century castle built by Giovanni Corrado Doria-de Aurea of Genoa. The town also has significant links with religious orders, which built colleges and convents here, including the Jesuit college approved by Ignatius of Loyola. Bivona is also home to one of the oldest cults dedicated to Saint Rosalia, patron saint of Palermo. Despite the economic crisis of the 17th century, Bivona continued to enrich itself with new architecture, such as the refined Palazzo Marchese Greco, an elegant example of Sicilian Baroque. Today, the town, with just over 3,000 inhabitants, retains the authentic atmosphere of Sicilian mountain villages and preserves a natural and agricultural heritage that makes it unique. The Bivona peach, a true symbol of identity, continues to represent not only an economic resource – with an annual production of around 2,500 tonnes – but also an emblem of tradition, taste and a deep connection with the land.

22) Burgio

Located in the mountains of the Sosio Valley, at an altitude of 317 metres and not far from Agrigento and Palermo, Burgio is a village that combines history, nature and popular traditions. Its name derives from the Greek pyrgos (“tower”), probably linked to an ancient Byzantine fortification. The origins of the village date back to the Middle Ages, when it was a Saracen colony and later a fiefdom of important Sicilian noble families. Dominated by the baronial castle and rich in churches, including the Mother Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, San Giuseppe and San Rocco, Burgio also houses the charming Capuchin monastery, famous for its Mummy Museum. The village is renowned for its ceramic art, handed down for centuries and now celebrated in the Muceb Ceramic Museum. Part of its territory also falls within the Monti di Palazzo Adriano e Valle del Sosio nature reserve, which is home to some of the oldest fossil finds in Sicily. Religious traditions are deeply felt, such as the spectacular Holy Week and the “Rigattiate”, the dancing race of the statues of San Vito and San Luca through the streets of the town centre. With its faith, artisan culture and unspoilt landscapes, Burgio preserves the charm of small Sicilian villages intact.

23) Mount Adranone

North of Sambuca di Sicilia, at an altitude of almost 900 metres, stands Monte Adranone, a hill that preserves the remains of an ancient Greek-Punic city, destroyed in the 3rd century BC but still capable of recounting its greatness today. Its dominant position, controlling the routes between Selinunte and Akragas, immediately reveals its strategic importance: it is no coincidence that, according to scholars, it was probably a defensive stronghold of the Carthaginians and could be identified with the Adranon mentioned by Diodorus Siculus in his chronicles of the First Punic War. Excavations have brought to light a settlement spread over a hilly, terraced area that slopes gently towards the south-west. At the entrance to the archaeological area is the Necropolis, with the famous Tomb of the Queen, one of the most monumental in ancient Sicily. Higher up are the remains of the mighty city walls, traces of the artisan and commercial quarter and the evocative Sanctuary, preceded by a votive chapel and enclosed by a sacred temenos. Finally, at the top of the hill is the Acropolis, the religious and symbolic heart of the city, where excavations have unearthed busts of deities, amphorae, Attic pottery and refined votive objects. Some of these finds are now on display in the Archaeological Museum of Palazzo Panitteri in Sambuca, while others are in the Regional Archaeological Museum of Agrigento and the “Antonio Salinas” Museum in Palermo, testifying to the extraordinary cultural wealth of the site. Walking among the ruins of Monte Adranone means immersing yourself in a suspended landscape, where nature and history intertwine: from the top, the view stretches over the surrounding valleys to the sea, revealing the same scenery that once welcomed the Greeks, Punics and Romans.

24) Racalmuto

Nestled in the hills of the Agrigento hinterland, Racalmuto – Racalmutu in Sicilian – bears the echo of Arab domination in its very name. According to some interpretations, it derives from Rahal Maut, “dead village”, in memory of an epidemic that decimated the population at the time of the Arabs' arrival; according to others, from Rahl al-mudd, “farmhouse of the bushel”. In any case, its ancient origins are linked to the events of peoples and dominations that have left deep traces here. In the Middle Ages, the Chiaramonte family built the great castle that still dominates the valley from above, a symbol of power and control. Racalmuto is known as the “town of reason” because it was the birthplace of Leonardo Sciascia, one of the greatest Italian writers of the 20th century. The author always maintained a close connection with his roots: his country house in the Noce district, the theatre of his childhood memories and his tomb in the cemetery, with the inscription that reads: 'We will remember this planet'. Today, a life-size bronze statue welcomes visitors along the town's main street, testifying to the unbroken dialogue between the author and his homeland. The cultural heart of the city is the Leonardo Sciascia Foundation, housed in a former power station dating back to the 1920s. Here, a rich collection of letters, around two thousand volumes from his personal library and Italian and foreign editions of his works are preserved. Not far away is Casa Sciascia, the writer's childhood home and then his residence from 1958 onwards. It was in these rooms that his first books saw the light of day, and it was in these spaces that the sensitivity that would be recounted in “Le Parrocchie di Regalpetra” and “Gli zii di Sicilia” took shape. Today, the house, reopened to the public and recognised as a “Place of Identity and Memory”, has become a cultural centre and a destination on the Strada degli Scrittori (Writers' Road). A walk through Racalmuto is a journey through memory and landscape: from the abandoned sulphur mines, which speak of work and toil, to the austere Chiaramontano Castle, from the church of Madonna del Monte, where the young Sciascia served Mass, to the main street, animated by stories and encounters. In Via Vittorio Emanuele, you will find the Regina Margherita Theatre, built between 1870 and 1880 by a pupil of Basile and nicknamed the “Piccolo Massimo” (Little Massimo) because of its resemblance to the theatre in Palermo. Restored in 2003, with artistic direction entrusted to Andrea Camilleri, it can now be visited by appointment. Racalmuto thus offers visitors a blend of history, culture and literature: a village that reveals the most authentic soul of Sicily, filtered through the pages and gaze of one of its most illustrious sons.

25) Comitini

Just 17 km from Agrigento, nestled on the Cumatino hill from which it takes its name, lies Comitini, a small village of just a thousand inhabitants, founded in the late 15th century by Gastone da Bellacera. Today it is a farming village, but its history is linked to an industrial past that has left a deep mark on Sicily: that of sulphur mining. From the 19th century until the 1950s, the Comitini area was home to over seventy mines, providing employment for thousands of people, including those from neighbouring villages. At a time when Sicilian sulphur was essential for the international chemical industry – indispensable for the production of sulphuric acid and other compounds – Comitini became one of the most important centres for this trade, employing more than 1,200 workers in its district alone. The heart of the town's social life remains Piazza Umberto I, an open-air salon that has remained unchanged over the centuries, harmoniously surrounded by 19th-century buildings that bear witness to a prosperous past. But Comitini's identity is also intertwined with its mining heritage, which has now been restored and enhanced. The Parco delle Zolfare dell'Agrigentino is an extraordinary example of industrial archaeology transformed into a cultural and tourist resource: among “Gill” furnaces – invented in 1880 by engineer Roberto Gill to perfect sulphur extraction – tunnels, entrances and remains of infrastructure, one can still breathe in the toil and daily life of generations of miners. Comitini is not just a village to visit, but a place of living memory, capable of recounting the intertwining of nature, work and history that has contributed to writing one of the most important pages in Sicilian economic history.

26) Alessandria della Rocca

Nestled at 533 metres above sea level, about 65 kilometres from Agrigento, Alessandria della Rocca is a small village with an ancient history and legendary charm. It was founded in 1570, when Baron Blasco Carlo Barresi, having obtained the jus populandi, built the first houses on the fiefdom inherited from Alessandro Presti, thus giving rise to the village of Alessandria della Pietra, a name that recalled the ancient Castello della Pietra d'Amico from the Saracen era. The fate of the village changed a century later, when a miraculous event marked its memory and name. A blind and very poor woman from the village had a vision of the Madonna while gathering wild herbs with her daughter. Invited to dig at the site, she found a precious statue of the Virgin, dating back to the 6th century and of great artistic and devotional value. The population, recognising the episode as a divine sign, decided to change the name of the village to Alessandria della Rocca, as the sacred effigy had been found in the Rocca Incavalcata district. This discovery also gave rise to a heated dispute with Baron Barresi, who claimed ownership of the statue, even taking it with him to Palermo. However, the people rebelled and managed to bring the miraculous image back to the village, keeping it in a specially built sanctuary, which is now a pilgrimage destination. Since then, the Madonna della Rocca has been venerated as the patron saint of the village, a symbol of faith and collective identity. Throughout its history, the village has changed its name several times: from Alessandria della Pietra to Alessandria di Sicilia in the 18th century, to distinguish it from other municipalities of the same name in the Kingdom, to its current name, officially ratified in 1863 by royal decree. Today, Alessandria della Rocca retains the authentic soul of the small agricultural centres of the Sicilian hinterland, where life revolves around the cult of its patron saint and the unbreakable bond with the land.

27) Santo Stefano Quisquina

Nestled at 732 metres above sea level, in the heart of the Magazzolo valley and surrounded by the green crown of the Sicani Mountains, lies Santo Stefano Quisquina, a village with an ancient soul deeply connected to its land. The name combines two distinctive elements: Stephanos, from the Greek word for “crown”, in honour of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, and Quisquina, which refers to the extensive forest surrounding the village, guardian of lush nature and legends of faith. Before taking its current name, established in 1863, the village was known as Santo Stefano di Melia, from the name of a district of what is now Castronovo di Sicilia, and later as Santo Stefano di Bivona, due to its proximity to the powerful Duchy of Bivona. However, its origins are even more remote: medieval documents attest to the existence of a farmhouse called Sancti Stephani belonging to the Sinibaldi family as early as the 10th century. The feudal history of the village is intertwined with the noble families who succeeded one another in ruling it: from the Caltagirone family, who built the first fortifications, to the Sinibaldi family, and finally the Ventimiglia family, who ruled for centuries, promoting the development of the village. Among the figures most dear to tradition is Santa Rosalia, daughter of Ruggero Sinibaldi and Maria Guiscarda, who, according to legend, lived for a period as a hermit in the caves of Quisquina, now a sanctuary immersed in a landscape of extraordinary beauty. The village preserves a precious 18th-century heritage, with elegant churches and palaces that bear witness to the vitality achieved in the baronial era. The heart of devotion is the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia alla Quisquina, built near the cave that welcomed the saint: a mystical place, surrounded by woods, which attracts pilgrims and visitors every year. Alongside the agricultural and pastoral tradition that still characterises the life of the village, there is a lively craft industry, a sign of a community that, although linked to the past, keeps its identity alive.

28) Cianciana

Nestled between the Sicani Mountains and overlooking the Platani River valley, Cianciana stands on a hill at an altitude of almost 400 metres, from where the view stretches as far as the sea at Agrigento. A small town dating back to the 17th century, it still retains the charm of inland villages, surrounded by rural landscapes and an authentically Sicilian atmosphere. The name refers to the ancient Villa Chincana, a Roman residence whose remains have been found in the surrounding area. After the first settlement was destroyed in the 14th century, the town was refounded in 1640 by Don Diego Joppolo under the name of Sant'Antonio di Cianciana, then passing under the rule of the Bonanno family in the 18th century. For centuries, agriculture was the town's main resource, but between the 19th and 20th centuries, the discovery and exploitation of sulphur mines led to a period of economic prosperity and urban expansion. In recent decades, Cianciana has experienced a unique phenomenon: numerous foreigners, attracted by the tranquillity, the countryside and the extraordinary hospitality of its people, have chosen to move here, buying and restoring houses in the historic centre. This interest was sparked by the English writer David Justice, who fell in love with the village and decided to settle there, subsequently involving friends and fellow countrymen. Today, in the streets of the village, you can meet families not only from the United Kingdom, but also from the United States, Canada, Poland, Scandinavia and other European countries, transforming Cianciana into a small cosmopolitan community nestled in the heart of Sicily. The historic centre is built along the main axes of Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Salita Regina Elena, lined with the most significant buildings and churches. Among these are the 17th-century Palazzo Joppolo and the Mother Church of Maria Assunta; a little further on are the Church of Purgatory, dating back to the 17th century, and the Church of St. Anthony, once located close to the southern edge of the village.

29) Joppolo Giancaxio

Ioppolo Giancaxio is located in the upper Akragas valley and is one of the youngest towns in the Agrigento hinterland, but its history has its roots in the Sicilian feudal era. The village was founded in 1696 by Baron Calogero Gabriele Colonna Romano, who obtained the privilege of ius populandi and had the first houses built. He chose to name it Ioppolo, in honour of his wife Rosalia Ioppolo, of the Dukes of Cesarò, and Giancaxio, from the name of the fiefdom on which the new village was built. For over a century, the small agricultural centre remained under the jurisdiction of the powerful Colonna family, first with the title of barony and then duchy, until the abolition of feudalism in 1812. Subsequently, Ioppolo Giancaxio was first a hamlet of Aragona and then of Raffadali, gaining municipal autonomy only in 1927. Walking through the village, it is still possible to admire the signs of that noble past. The Ducal Church and the Colonna Castle, both dating back to the 17th century, bear witness to the role of the family that founded and ruled the town. A particularly evocative place is the noble chapel, built in the 19th century to house the remains of Baron Calogero Gabriele Colonna, a member of the national parliament, who died in Livorno in 1879 and was brought back here with solemn honours. His brother Francesco, Duke of Reitano, and other members of the Colonna family also rest in the chapel. Their ancestor Domenico Colonna Romano, who died in 1841, is buried in the Mother Church under a simple earthen tombstone, commemorating the continuity between faith, nobility and community. Ioppolo Giancaxio thus retains the charm of a small village strongly linked to its origins, where traces of a feudal past coexist with the intimate and authentic dimension of an agricultural village in the Sicilian hinterland.